1. In the essay "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie," fantasy and science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin says that style is the most important ingredient of a work of fantasy because "in fantasy there is nothing but the writer's vision of the world." ("From Elfland to Poughkeepsie," 1973; in The Language of the Night; New York: HarperCollins, 1993.) Does Diana Wynne Jones's style add to or detract from the believability of the fantasy setting? In what way?

2. Research dragons in Eastern and Western mythology and legend. Tell what aspects of the myths and legends seem to have influenced Diana Wynne Jones in her creation of the dragons in this novel, especially Scales, and how her conception of a dragon differs from traditional dragons. You might also use for comparison or contrast one of the following works of modern fiction: The Hobbit by J...